Overseam for fabrics



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J. G. GREENE. OVERSEAM FOR FABRICS.

Patentd Apt. 5,1892.

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J. G. GREENE. OVERSEAM POE EABRIGS.

No. 472,117. Patented Apr. 5,1892.

UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

JAMES G. GREENE, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY.

OVERSEAM FOR FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,117, dated April 5, 1892.

Application filed August 11, 1891.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES G. GREENE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elizabeth, in the countyof Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Art of Overseaming Fabrics, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to the art of overseam- 1ng, and has for its object the production of an overseam which maybe employed for bindng and ornamenting the edges of fabrics or In working buttonholes in such a way that a purl edge will be produced on both sides of the work, so that both sides of the latter will have the same or substantially the same appearance. This is a great desideratum, es pecially for buttonholes, both sides of which are liable to be exposed.

In carrying my invention into effect I first pass a loop of what may be termed a first or sewing thread through the fabric and near the edge thereof. I next pass a loop of a second or looping thread through the first loop and toward the edge of the fabfic. I then pass a loop of a third thread through the second loop and across the fabric edge,'and then a loop of a fourth thread through the third loop and from the edge of the'fabric, and then pass a loop of the sewing-thread from which the first loop was formed through the fourth loop and the fabric and in a different position from the first loop to complete what may be termed the first stitch, and commence the second stitch, and I subsequently tighten thesaid loops, these operations being repeated by passing a loop of the thread from which the second loop was formed through a loop of the first or sewing thread, and so on for the different threads in the order above named. Preferably the first or sewing thread, from which the first loop and its repetitions are formed, is held with a comparatively light tension, while the threads from which the other loops and their repetitions are formed are held with a heavier tension, so that in tightening the stitches the loops of the first or sewing thread are drawn to the grammatic edge view of the same.

edge of the fabric on both sides of the work, and are there enchained with the loops of the Serial No. 402.371- (No model.)

second and fourth threads, thereby producing a purl at the edge of the fabric on both sides of the work, the second and fourth threads being interlooped along the edge of the fabric not only with the loops of the first thread, but also with the loops of the third thread. From thisit results that the edge of the work is strongly protected by a series of enchained loops formed from four threads, and by using different-colored threads very pleasing ornamental effects may be secured.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3, and l are diagrammatic views illustrating the practice of my invention. Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic plan views of the work from opposite sides, Fig. 5 being a top view and Fig. 6 a bottom View; and Fig. 7 is a dia- Figs. 8 and 9 are top and bottom diagrammatic views, respectively, illustrative of my improved overseam with the tension of the needle-thread tight enough to draw the looping-threads slightly over or back from the edges of the fabrics. Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view to show a cord at the fabric edges inclosed by my improved overseam.

A denotes sections of fabrics to be oversearned, and a, b, c, and d denote the four threads which I prefer to employ in carrying my invention into effect, and in so doing I pass a loop of the sewing-thread a through the fabric or fabrics near the edge or edges thereof, as denoted in Fig. 1. I nextpass a loop of the thread I) through-the loop of the sewing-thread a, and toward the edge of the fabric, as in Fig. 2. I next pass a loop of the thread 0 through the second loop formed by the thread I) and across the edge of the fabric, as in Fig. 3. I next pass a loop of the thread cl through a loop of the thread a and from the edge of the fabric, as in Fig. 4, and a loop of the first or sewing thread a is then passed through the loop of the thread d and the fabric to complete the cycle of operations and to commence what may be termed a new stitch, these operations being continued by passing a loop of the thread I) through the second loop of the thread a, and so on, the several loops which enter into the formation of the stitch being gradually and successively tightened. By holding the first or sewing thread a with a comparatively light tension and the second, third, and fourth threads Z), c, and (Z with a heavier tension the loops of the thread a, will be drawn over to the edge of the fab ric on both sides of the work, and being enehained at said edge with the loops of the thread I) and (Z, respectively, a double purledge overseam is formed, which has substantially the same appearance on both sides of the work, as hereinbefore stated. The looping-threads b, c, and (Z, which are enchained with the thread a and with each other, lie along the edge of the overseamed fabric when the stitches are tightened, and thus form a strong covering for the fabric edge and produce a very durable and strong buttonhole, and if it be desired to produce ornamental overedge work differently-colored threads can be employed in the production of the same,

20 thus resulting in very pleasing ornamental elfects \Vhile for some classes of work-such as buttonholes-I refer to have the tension of the sewing-thread (t slack enough so that the loops thereof will be drawn to the edge of the fabric on both sides of the work, I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to this particular arrangement of the loops of the sewing-thread a, as for some other classes of workfor example, in making ornamental edgings-the tension of the sewing-thread a may be sufficiently tight so that the loops thereof maynot extend quite to the edges of the fabric, and in such case the loopingthreads b and (1 will somewhat overlap the said edges, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

In using my improved stitch in overseaming, as in overseaming the edges of lace-curtains and similar delicate fabrics, I prefer to employ one or more cords, which are inclosed by the overedge-stitch.

Fig. 10 illustrates in a diagrammatic way a cord 6, inclosed by the overseam at the edges of the fabrics.

It will be clearly apparent, more particularly from Figs. 1, 2, 23, and t, that the four threads constituting my improved overseam are all interlooped with each otherthat is to say, a bight or doubled portion of thread is passed through the preceding loop or bight ofthread-and the term interlooped, as used in the claims of this specification, will therefore be understood to mean a loop or bight or doubled portion of thread passed through another loop or bight or doubled portion of thread, the term interlooped thus distinguishing my improved overseam from a fourthread overseam, in which a single length of thread is passed through or locked into loops of needle or in which a single thread is wound in a serpentine course around the needle-thread.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with a fabric or fabrics, of an overseam consisting of a sewingthread successively passing through said fabric or fabrics near the edge or edges thereof, and three looping-threads, one of which is interlooped with loops of the said sewing-thread formed on the under side of the work, another of which is interlooped with loops of the said sewing-thread formed on the upper side of the work, and the third of which is interlooped with the other two looping-threads only.

2. The combination, with a fabric or fabrics, of an overseam consisting of a sewingthread successively penetrating the said fabric or fabrics near the edge or edges thereof and formed into loops on both sides of the fabric, the said loops being extended from the points of the penetration to the fabric edge or edges, and three looping-threads interlooped with the said sewing-thread and with each other along the edge of the fabric.

In testimony whereof Iattix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES G. GREENE.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. ELKIN, L. B. MILLER. 

